The Third National Drama Festival of Guyana, which is now in session, seems to be confirming the growing trend among Guyanese playwrights to use drama to tackle burning social issues. The 2013 Festival (NDF) continues with three plays on stage today: a double starting at 2pm – The Date and Hamilton’s Free Reign to be followed later at 8pm by Paloma Mohamed’s popular comedy Anybody See Brenda? all at the National Cultural Centre.
In total there are 32 plays competing in five categories: Open Long Play; Open Short or One-Act Play; Junior; Debutante; and Secondary Schools. An overwhelming 25 of these are new plays, most of them created specifically for entry into the Festival. Of the seven ‘old’ plays,